April 4 - White Rock Trail (Antelope Island)

 Mostly sunny day with the highs near 80 degrees again - another record setting day.

Heading up to Antelope Island for perhaps the last time for several months because of biting gnats; they're coming soon.

And I'm not even thinking about the Sentry Trail today; I'm heading directly to White Rock - hoping to beat the masses.

As I cross the causeway, it's cloudy and in the low 50s. 

I see a few Willets on the Salt Lake side - I should stop, but I'm on a mission.

When I reach the island, I head directly to the west side and the White Rock trail. 

Plenty of bison behind the Visitor's Center (near the road) and Bison Point this morning. And thankfully, there are none near the White Rock trail. Yea!

I'd be the 1st in the lots just after 8am if I didn't stop for a potty break. But I do get the head start on the trail.

I make it up the switchbacks and head clockwise around the loop. I see 4 bison along the fence. If they stay, they are not an issue for me but as I continue to walk, they start moving south along the fence, directly towards the trail. No, not again!

I continue to walk and so do the bison. We're on a collision path. Then they start to run towards the trail and I lose sight of them behind the little hill I'm climbing. I have no idea where they are so I slow down as I reach the top. I peer over and they are still 30-40 yards in front of me with the last bison just crossing the trail. I stop. Thankfully, they keep moving west away from the trail.

However, the final bison decides to start moving north and the others follow including myself. Just keeping my distance and when they stop, I do too. Then they turn east again towards the trail. Ugh! As the first bison reaches the trail, all of them take off running to the northeast towards a lone bison in the distance. Through the sagebrush they go and meet up with that lone bison. I'm free again!

But not for long because after the next rise, there are more bison. These are the guys the keep interrupting my Gravel Pit hikes. They are 40-50 yards off the trail. All but one is feeding; the other is lying down. I pass without issue.

The area where all this is happening, there are tons of blooming Parsley; it looks wonderful!.

It's a quiet walk the rest of the way to White Rock ridge. 

There are bison among the rocks as I cross.


 I take some photos as they should be starting to have babies. It's when I get home, do I realize that I was looking at the season first 2 bison babies!! Way cool!


I take the inner loop. There are no critters in the meadow but I do hear the wonderful calls of Curlew somewhere out there.

I find some Camas heading towards the inner loop.

The flowers along the inner loop are scarce - I'm too early for the little pink flowers (Redbill Stork) or its too dry for them. I seeing a few black beetles though. I think there might be more activity but there's still no sun. I'm OK with it as it keeps it cooler.

I do find some Redbill Stork?? farther down the trail.

I'm about 1/2 way when I see 2 Curlew take-off and land somewhere ahead of me. Perhaps I'll run into them.

And I do, a watch them for a while 

 and pass them by.


Then it's back down the trail to my car. Since it's only 10:50, I decide to head to the Ranch to see if I can find that Great Horned Owl I heard on Friday.

I find a lone Pronghorn on the way to the main road.


Along the way, the bison are still scattered along the way. No babies visible but it doesn't mean they are not there.

I also pass a Porcupine and maybe a baby and a coyote crosses the road in front of me.

I reach the Ranch and head into the picnic. The Ranch "helper" says the male is in the back so that's the way I go but I can't find him. I go to the far corner and there he is. Awesome! Mission accomplished!

Time to head out with one more thing to check on - the arrival of the Burrowing Owls. And they're here - at least one is!!


Awesome day!

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